Sweep cutter



Ma 8, 1951 H, c, ML ON 2,551,778

SWEEP CUTTER Filed Dec. 6, 1944 I fifezm C Mao/v Allan/72y Patented May8, 1951 SWEEP CUTTER Harry G. Wilson, Beverly Hills, Califi, assignor toRobert H. Clark, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 6, 1944, Serial No. 566,837

Claims.

This invention has to do with a cutter and it is a general object of theinvention to provide a cutter of the type commonly referred to as a flycutter and in which the cutter proper, or blade, is mounted so that itwill not bite into the material being worked upon and will not chatterduring operation.

Adjustable cutters, known commonly as fly cutters, are used extensivelyfor drilling or boring various materials and are characterized by acentral body that is rotated, an arm projecting laterally from the bodyand a cutting blade carried by the arm to engage the work or materialbeing out. With the usual construction found in such a device there is amarked tendency for the cutter or blade to bite into the work, thisbeing particularly true when certain materials are being worked upon,and it is very common for the cutter or blade to chatter. As a result ofthe difliculties mentioned the usual fly cutter seldom works or operatessmoothly or cuts a clean hole but, more generally, chatters during useand the hole made is seldom clean and smooth. It also often occurs thatthe cutting blade, if thin or delicate, is broken in the course of useof the ordinary fly cutter.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fly cutter characterizedby a head which supports the cutter or blade so that it will cuteffectively and smoothly and without chatter. The construction that Ihave provided is such as to support the cutting blade accurately anddependably and with slight resilience so that it clears itself from thework when excessive pressures develop rather than being rigidly held tobe forced into the work.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fly cutter of the generalcharacter referred to in which the desired resiliency is obtainedthrough the formation or design of the head provided for carrying theblade. In my construction the head is of simple, inexpensive formationand at the same time has a certain limited inherent resiliency whichcauses the blade to be supported in a most advantageous manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cutter of the generalcharacter referred to in which the head for carrying the cutter blade isin the form of a block formed integrally on the outer end of theadjustable arm, which block is given the desired characteristics throughsimple, easily performed machining operations.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of typical preferredforms 2 and applications of the invention, throughoutwhich descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fiy cutter embodying the presentinvention taken to show the front or leading edge of the blade carriedby the block provided on the end of the adjustable alllll. in Fig. 1,showing the side of the blade, being a view taken as indicated by line2-2 on Fig. '1. Fig. 3 is a plan section taken as indicated by line 3-3on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another form ofconstruction embodying the invention. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2showing the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is anenlarged, detailed, sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-6 onFig. 4, and Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional views of blades thatcan be used.

an Referring first to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1to 3, inclusive, the device embodying the invention involves, generally,a body it, an arm H to be carried by the body to project laterallytherefrom, means l2 mounting the arm on the body, a block l3 on theouter end of the arm, a cutter or blade M to be carried by the block,and means I5 mounting the blade on the block.

The body I0 is preferably an elongate element adapted to be rotatedabout its longitudinal axis and in its preferred form it is provided atits upper end with a mounting shank 20. The particular body shown in thedrawings is square in cross sectional configuration and the shank 20 isintegral with the body and is a tapered shank commonly employed on toolsof the character under consideration. In practice it is desirable toprovide the tool with a pilot either in the form of a pin or drill. Inthe drawings I show the body provided with a central pilot opening- 2|and I show a drill 22 arranged in the opening to project downwardlybeyond the lower end of the body and secured in position by a set screw23.

The arm H is preferably a straight bar-like element and may, inpractice, be substantially rectangular in cross sectional configurationand of considerable length to be adjustable so that its outer end, whichcarries the block I3, is removed a substantial distance from the bodyIll.

The means l2 for mounting the arm on the body may vary widely in formand design, it being the primary purpose of such means to secure the armto the body so that it projects laterally therefrom and is held rig-idlyduring operation of the tool.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tool shown.

In the form illustrated I V provide a channel or notch-like opening 30across one side face of the body and proportion the channel to slidablyreceive or carry the arm The means I2 includes, in addition to thechannel or recess of the arm into the body. a clamp rin or washer 3| toengage or overlie the arm, and a clamp screw 32 threaded to the body andcarrying the clamp washer. The screw 32 may be an ordinary cap screwcarried in a tapped bore provided transversely in the body from the facethat is provided with the channel and located adjacent the channel sothe parts bear the relationship clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings. When the screw 32 is made tight the clamp washer 3| bearstightly against the outer side of the arm H and thus clamps the armtight in the channel 30.

Through the construction just described the arm can be readily set invarious positions relative to the body or to bring the outer endthereof, which carries the block l3, into any desired position relativeto the body so long as a substantial portion of the arm is carried inthe channel or at least enough of the arm is carried in the channel tobe engaged and clamped by the clamp washer 3 I.

The block provided by my invention on the outer end of the arm forcarrying the blade |4 preferably includes a head 40 spaced from the armH and a neck or shank 4| joining the head with the arm. In the preferredarrangement the head 40 is spaced immediately below the outer endportion of the arm I and the shank 4| which supports the head joins thearm and head and is shaped and proportioned to support the head with alimited degree of resiliency or yield.

In the preferred form of the invention the shank 4| is a curved elementand projects forward and down from the outer end portion of the arm, asclearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In practice I form the upperend of the shank integral with the forward side of the arm H at theprojecting end of the arm and the lower end of the shank joins theforward portion of the head 40. To give the shank 4| the desired shapeor curvature I provide a gradually curved or convex forward or outerside 42 on the shank and a corresponding concave inner side thereon. Toeasily form the inner side in the desired manner I provide the blockwhich forms the head and shank with a round opening or bore 45 and inthe form of the invention under consideration I make this openin rathersmall in diameter and then provide a suitably curved kerf or cut 48 inthe block, which cut establishes the concave side of the shank. In theparticular form of the invention being described the cut 46 has a part47 which separates the arm H from the head 40, as clearly shown in Fig.2 of the drawings. From the foregoing description it will be apparenthow the block can be easily manufactured from a solid body into the head40 and curved supporting shank by simply drilling the hole 45 andforming the kerf having parts 46 and 41.

In accordance with my invention the cutter or blade I4 is carried by oneface 50 of the head 40. In the form of the invention under considerationthe outermost or lateral end face of the head is employed to carry theblade and this face is provided with a vertical channel 5| whichslidably holds the blade. When this construction is employed and whenthe end face 50 of the head is coincidental with the end face 55 of thearm H, as is shown in the drawings, the end face 55 of the arm isrecessed at 56 to provide clearance for the upper end of the bladeshould it project above the head 40. I may also provide a cuttercarrying channel 5| in the inner side face of the head so a blade can becarried at that point instead of or in addition to being carried at theouter side of the head.

The cutter or blade |4 may be a fiat, simple blade designed to cut achannel or groove in the material worked upon. When the blade is flatsided as shown in Fig. 7, it is preferably given a slight rearward taperfor clearance. The blade may be curved as shown in Fig. 8, in which caseit may also be tapered for clearance. In the drawings I have shown avery simple form of blade having its lower end dressed to form a cuttingedge 60, it being understood that blades of various forms and designsmay be employed, as circumstances may require.

The means |5 for securing the blade M to the head 40 preferably involvesa simple clamp such as a clamp bolt. In the drawings I have shown aclamp bolt 6| carried by the head 40 and having a head 62 which overlapsand engages the cutter blade M to hold it in its mounting channel 5|.The bolt 6| extends through the head and at the side opposite the cuttercarries a clamp nut 63.

With the construction that I have provided the arm II is adjusted sothat the block |3 is supported at the desired point relative to the body|0 and a cutter blade of the desired form and shape is clamped to thehead 40 to be rigidly carried thereby and to depend therefrom in amanner such as I have illustrated in the drawings. As the tool isoperated in the manner common to fly cutters the blade |4 may be advanced into the work or material and as the tool rotates the blade willcut a groove or channel in the material. Under ordinary workingconditions the structure that I have provided holds the blade rigidly orsolidly. However, should there be any tendency for the blade to biteinto the work and thus create excessive strains that might injure theblade or cause chattering the shank 4| affords relief or allows the head49 to spring back slightly and enough to relieve the cutter. It will beunderstood that, in practice, the spring or yieldability of the shankcan be Varied by varying its shape and proportioning and that variousdegrees of yield may be provided to meet varying working conditions.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawingsthe general construction is substantially the same as that abovedescribed, except that the body It] instead of being shown square incross section is round in cross section, and the block |3 at the outerend of the arm is slightly different in form from that above described,while the means I5 is also somewhat different in form.

The block |3 is essentially the same as the block |3 above describedexcept that the bore 45 is considerably larger in diameter than the bore45 and forms the major part of the curvature of the shank 42*. In thisform of the invention as in the one first described, the head isseparated from the arm by a cut provided in the block joining the bore45 In this form of the invention there is a single, straight kerf or cut4'! serving this purpose. The head M3 in this form of the inventionprojects slightly to the rear of the arm and the rear side 50 of thehead is employed to support the cutter blade.

The means |5 in this form of the invention involves a clamp block 10with flanges 1| embracing the head so the block is guided vertically onthe rear face 50 of the head. One or more vertical channels 5W areprovided in the block facing the head and a screw Sl joins the block tothe head. When the screw 6| is tightened the clamp block ill is movedtoward the head so that a cutter carried in one of the channels isclamped tight against the face 50 of the head. With the arrangement justdescribed the cutter blade depends from the rear face of the head ratherthan from the side or end face thereof, and by providing channels 5| inthe clamp block 10 more than one cutter can be carried at a time and thecutter can be mounted so that it is as close as possible to the body mTo facilitate adjustment of the structure so that the blade is veryclose to the body 10* the body I0 is notched out at 80, as shown in Fig.4.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6,inclusive, is substantally the same as that hereinabove described, thatis, the arm can be adjusted to any desired position and the cutterdepending from the head ll! is mounted so that it is solid or firm forall practical purposes but because of the curved shank 42* can spring oryield rearwardly to relieve excessive strain.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails 7:

herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations 0rmodifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fallwithin the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A cutter of the character described inc1uding a body with a mountingstem, an arm carried by the body to project laterally therefrom, acutter, a block fixed on the outer end of the arm to support the cutterand including a head spaced from the arm and having a rear cuttersupporting face and a forwardly projecting curved shank fixed to theforward sides of the head and arm and having flexibility in the plane ofcut to yield slightly under excessive strain applied to the cutter, andmeans holding the cutter on said supporting face.

2. A cutter of the character described including a body with a mountingstem, an arm carried by the body to project laterally therefrom, acutter, a unitary block on the arm to support the cutter and including ahead spaced immediately below the outer end portion of the arm andhaving a fiat rear cutter supporting face rearward of the arm, the blockincluding a curved shank fiexible relative to the head and arm andintegrally joining the head to the arm and supporting the head to yieldrearwardly under excessive strain applied to the cutter, the shankextending forward and downward from the front side face of I the armsubstantially parallel with the direction of cut and then downwardly andrearward to join the forward portion of the head, and clamp meansholding the cutter on said cutter supporting face.

3. A cutter 'of the character described including a body with a mountingstem, an arm carried by the body to project laterally therefrom, acutter, a block on the outer end of the arm having a head with a rearface and a curved shank resiliently connecting the head and arm, andmeans mounting the cutter on the rear face of the block including aclamp block carrying the cutter and a screw connecting the clamp blockto the head so the cutter is clamped to the head, the clamp block andhead having cooperating parts holding the clamp block against turningrelative, to the head.

4. A cutter of the character described including a body with a mountingstem, an arm carried by the body to project laterally therefrom, acutter, a block on the outer end of the arm having a head with a rearface and a curved resilient shank joining the head and the arm, andmeans mounting the cutter on the rear face of the block including aclamp block opposite the said rear face and having cutter carryingchannels opposing said face and a screw connecting the clamp block tothe head so a cutter in a chan nel is clamped to said face of the head.

5. A cutter of the character described including a body with a mountingstem, a pilot carried by the body concentric with the stem, an armcarried by the body to project laterally therefrom, a cutter, a block onthe outer end of the arm having a head with a rear face and a curvedresilient shank joining the head and arm, and means mounting the cutteron the said rear face of the head including a clamp with cutter carryingchannels opposing the said face and a screw connecting the clamp to thehead so a cutter in a channel is clamped to said face of the head, thebody having a recess extending to a point adjacent the pilot forreception of the block.

HARRY C. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 63,882 Gruger Apr. 16, 1867286,610 Heysinger Oct. 16, 1883 1,237,021 Corke Aug. 14, 1917 1,323,570Basmaison Dec. 2, 1919 1,382,447 Wells June 21, 1921 1,746,463 ElderFeb. 11, 1930 2,083,418 Andrews June 8, 1937 2,225,224 Landrum Dec. 17,1940 2,269,510 Bates Jan. 13, 1942

